Spielberg Backs Clinton

The ending has been written to a Hollywood cliffhanger: Mega-successful filmmaker Steven Spielberg, after an initial interest in Barack Obama, is officially in the Hillary Clinton camp.

In a statement released this morning by the Clinton campaign, Spielberg said that after familiarizing himself "with the impressive field of Democratic candidates," he had decided that the New York senator and former First Lady "is the most qualified candidate to lead us from her first day in the White House."

You can read the rest of the statement here.

The Times' Tina Daunt, who pens the Calendar section's Cause Celebre column, saw this one coming. Last Friday, she wrote that it appeared "Hollywood's infatuation with Sen. Barack Obama was just a flirtation before it settles down with its longtime girlfriend," Clinton.

Daunt went on to note that Spielberg, "once considered a solid supporter of Illinois Democrat Obama, is now believed to be leaning in favor of Clinton." And Tina will be writing about this latest development for Thursday's print edition.

Endorsements are one of those rituals in the campaign process with a debatable impact. They don't hurt, and in some cases a celebrity's embrace may win a candidate a second look from some members of the public. But lots of politicians boasting impressive supporter lists have gone down to defeat. After all, when even the most ardent Indiana Jones fan is in a voting booth instead of a movie theater, how much will Spielberg's nod to Clinton mean?

Still, in this case, his announcement is a matter of Clinton holding serve. His endorsement may not be a huge plus, but losing Spielberg to Obama would have been a blow to both the Clintons. It would have sent a signal that their time — at least in the eye of one masterful image-maker and storyteller — was past.

— Don Frederick

Photo: Steven Spielberg; Credit: J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Comments

[Juvenal Sahiri]

Except for the money part, a celebrity endorsement accounts for little. He is not going to campaign for Clinton. There might be idiots whose opinion is influenced by holly wood stars, but for the majority of would-be voters, their decision will be based on key core issues such as the war in iraq, education and social security, topics on which spielberg and other entertainment stars are not any more informed than the rest of us.

[Jared]

Hillary is the "most qualified leader?" How's that? And how does Mr. Spielberg figure that she is the candidate who will "bring America together?" She is one of the most polarizing figures in American politics! I have no idea who I'm voting for yet, and I find it somewhat insulting that this early in the game, these "big players" in Hollywood, who are apparently more educated than the working class (what a load of hubris), are already trying to pave the way for an easy win, despite the fact that most of the crucial differences between the candidates, at this juncture, haven't even been exposed. The lackluster debates thus far have proven nothing, except for the fact that certain candidates are trying desperately to distance themselves from the rest of the potentials. This all said, I am a Democrat (by default) but that doesn't mean they aren't asking for trouble by courting supporters whose opinions most Americans aren't concerned with because most celebrities don't understand what it is like to work for a living at a moderate wage.

[Inverse137]

Here I wasted all this time researching the candidates, looking at their past voting records, cutting through the rhetoric of their speeches to try and weed out the facts and the LA Times is kind enough to let me know that some dude who makes talking pictures endorses a particular candidate.

Just when I thought I had figured out just how stupid the average american is something causes me to re-evaluate my current scale-of-idiocy.

Apethy is why this country is in the toilet, not liberals, not the neo-cons, but the laziness of the average american.

[Z.D. Bar]

Why would anyone care what individual Steven Spielberg thinks is the best candidate? Beyond his total lack of political experience and actual service to our country, he is nothing but a story-maker. Is the theory that because he is rich, his opinion is necessary valid? His opinion on such issues should be kept out of the media. It is unfortunate that the media thinks that his opinion on political matters constitutes news. It does not. It is a mere unqualified opinion. Please ask yourself: when was the last time anyone asked a movie producer to fix the economy, update health-care, pave roads, build schools, or deal with other sovereign entities. This is but a contribution, and all news entities that consider it news are weak sources of news, and likely biased.

[Fred]

When Spielberg and Hanks made " Saving Private Ryan" and "Band of Brothers", a lot of people were taken in by their supposed patriotism. I asked such people to check where their political donations went, to solid liberal democommies. If Speilberg can't see anybody but Barak-osama-alabama Obama-erraaag erragg ( take off on Kennedy screwing up ), his thoughts are the same as when he backed Billary. Why not back BilHillary? hahahaha

[DLA]

Hilary isn't a bionic woman like those Hilary haters want to make her out to be.
A woman, in today's world, can and should have the same opportunity like any white man has in pursuing her life long ambition.

[spitfire]

OMG, a successful hollywood director who originally was arrested for trespassing on universal studios endorses hildog for president.

Now I have to vote for her.